Perlisten X3w black
Perlisten X3w, 2-way on-wall speaker
Ten centimetres of depth are enough for this speaker to house two carbon-cone woofers and a tweeter mounted in a waveguide. Mounted on either side of a television, used as rear channels in a multichannel system or as a stereo pair in a living room with limited floor space, it brings the dispersion engineering that guides all of the American manufacturer’s models to a sealed cabinet 45 cm tall.
A tweeter flanked by two woofers
The 38 mm silk-dome tweeter sits in the centre of the front baffle, between two 5.5-inch drivers (around 14 cm). This symmetrical arrangement makes the sound originate from the same apparent point: the two mid/bass drivers, positioned above and below the tweeter, mirror each other on either side of the axis, so a voice does not seem to come from the top or bottom of the cabinet. Their carbon-fibre cones combine lightness and rigidity, two qualities that limit deformation as the volume rises.
The tweeter sits in a waveguide designed by Perlisten, a kind of shallow horn that shapes sound dispersion both horizontally and vertically. Horizontally, the wide, even dispersion maintains the same tonal balance for the person sitting at the end of the sofa as for the one in the centre seat. Vertically, controlled dispersion reduces the energy directed towards the ceiling and floor. Reflections from these surfaces reach the ear with a slight delay and blur dialogue clarity: by reducing them, the speaker keeps voices clearer, even in a room with little acoustic treatment.
A sealed enclosure that works with the wall and subwoofer
The cabinet is fully sealed, with no port. The air trapped inside acts like a spring on the cones, and the response, which extends down to 60 Hz, then rolls off gently, more gradually than the steep drop-off of a ported speaker. The wall, a few centimetres behind, slightly reinforces the bass. At the top of the spectrum, the response extends up to 30 kHz.
This smooth roll-off makes integration with a subwoofer easier: the X3w leaves deep bass to the subwoofer and handles everything else, without peaks or dips in the crossover region. In stereo listening without a subwoofer, the deepest bass of an organ or electronic music will remain subdued, as with any cabinet of this depth.
Ten centimetres deep, nine kilos to hang
Measuring 450 × 200 × 100 mm and weighing 9 kg, the X3w protrudes only slightly from the wall, even when installed beside a wall-mounted television. The mounting bracket is included, with an adjustable angle bracket that turns the speaker towards the listening area: useful when the front speakers are widely spaced, or for surround channels mounted on side walls. A protective grille is also included.
The weight requires fixings suited to the wall. On a masonry wall, standard wall plugs are sufficient; on a plasterboard partition, you need to secure it to a stud or use fixings designed for heavy loads. Two finishes are available, satin black or satin white: the former discreetly frames a dark screen, while the latter blends into a white wall.
Power, impedance and position in the X range
With an impedance of 4 ohms and a sensitivity of 89 dB (measured at 2.83 V and 1 m), the X3w requires an amplifier capable of delivering current into a low-impedance load. Most recent AV amplifiers support 4-ohm speakers, some through an impedance setting in their menu; check the manual before connecting. Perlisten recommends amplification of 50 to 200 W.
Within the X range, the X3w sits between the X2w and the X5w. The latter moves to a three-way design, with four 5.5-inch drivers and a sensitivity of 92 dB, for large rooms or the front channels of a dedicated room. The range also includes built-in models: the X3iw, an in-wall version of the same design, and the X2ic for the ceiling. All share the same sonic signature, a sought-after quality in home cinema when an effect moves from one speaker to another: the sound does not change character as it crosses the room.
Technical specifications
Acoustic design
- Type: 2-way wall-mounted speaker, sealed enclosure (acoustic suspension)
- Finishes: satin black, satin white
Drivers
- Tweeter: 38 mm silk dome
- Integrated into a dedicated waveguide providing controlled, wide horizontal and vertical dispersion
- Woofers: 2 × 13.97 cm carbon fiber cones
- Positioned on either side of the tweeter
Performance and amplification
- Sensitivity: 89 dB (2.83 V / 1 m)
- Impedance: 4 Ω
- Frequency response: 60 Hz to 30 kHz
- Recommended amplifier power: 50 to 200 W
Included accessories
- Mounting bracket, angle adjustment bracket, protective grille
Dimensions and weight
- Dimensions (H × W × D): 450 × 200 × 100 mm
- Weight: 9 kg
Frequently asked questions
What sound level can you achieve with a 50 W amplifier?
Into a 4-ohm load, the 2.83 V used for the sensitivity measurement corresponds to 2 W. With 50 W, the theoretical level increases by about 14 dB, reaching nearly 103 dB at 1 m, and around 93 to 94 dB at 3 m in free-field conditions. In a room, reflections add a few decibels. With 200 W, the theoretical ceiling rises to around 109 dB at 1 m.
At what height should the X3w be mounted?
For front channels, positioning the tweeter at a seated person’s ear level, approximately 1 m to 1.20 m above the floor depending on the sofa, provides the clearest sound reproduction. For surround channels, positioning it slightly above the viewers’ heads prevents the sound from being blocked by seat backs or people, and the supplied bracket angles the speaker toward the center of the listening area.
Which setting should you choose on an AV receiver with a subwoofer?
Set the X3w speakers to “Small” in the amplifier menu and set the crossover frequency to around 80 Hz. Everything below this goes to the subwoofer; above it, the X3w takes over. A 60 Hz setting may suit music listening, but 80 Hz leaves the woofers more power headroom during demanding scenes.
What cable do I need to connect it to the amplifier?
For a 4-ohm speaker, a cable with a cross-sectional area of 2.5 mm² is suitable for typical runs of up to around ten metres. For longer runs, or for rear channels where the cable runs along skirting boards, a 4 mm² cross-section limits losses. For in-wall installation, choose a cable rated for this use.
Can the X3w be paired with other Perlisten speakers?
Yes. For the three front channels, which handle most of the dialogue and effects, staying within the X range ensures a consistent tonal balance. Pairing X3w speakers at the front with in-wall X3iw speakers for the rear channels, or with X2ic speakers in the ceiling, maintains this consistency while making the rear of the room almost invisible.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
